Finding Aid to the Charles S. Thaeler, Jr. papers
MVZA.MSS.0258
Finding aid prepared by Ajay Yalamanchi
The processing of this collection was made possible through funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through
the Council on Library and Information Resources' "Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives" Project.
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives
3101 Valley Life Sciences Building
University of California
Berkeley
mvzarchives@berkeley.edu
22 April 2014
Descriptive Summary
Title: Charles S. Thaeler, Jr. papers
Identifier/Call Number: MVZA.MSS.0258
Contributing Institution:
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1956-1963
Language of Materials: Materials primarily in
English
Creator:
Thaeler, Charles, Jr., 1932-2004
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. All requests to publish, quote, or reproduce must be submitted to the Museum of Vertebrate
Zoology Archives in writing for approval. Please contact the Museum Archivist for further information.
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Charles S. Thaeler, Jr. papers, MVZA.MSS.0258, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives, University
of California, Berkeley.
Biographical note
Dr. Charles S. Thaeler, Jr., born on January 9, 1932, mainly studied pocket gopher species in California and the Western United
States during his time with the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at UC Berkeley. Although formally a graduate PhD student under
Dr. Seth B. Benson from 1964-1969, Thaeler was affiliated with the MVZ prior to his enrollment as a graduate student. The
Thaeler Field Notes Collection contains his research from 1956-1963 on the genus Thomomys, smooth-toothed pocket gophers,
which were the subjects of his PhD dissertation entitled “An Analysis of the Distribution of Pocket Gopher Species in Northeastern
California (Genus Thomomys)” (1968). Thaeler’s research took him all throughout California, but he mainly focused his research
on Northern California counties, including Lassen, Shasta, Siskiyou, Plumas, and Mendocino county.
Although the Thaeler Field Notes Collection provides a glimpse into Thaeler’s life through his journal entries, the Thaeler
Correspondence, also housed in the MVZ, reveals much more about the man behind the words. Thaeler’s warm personality and humorous
side exude from his numerous letters and memos to friends and colleagues. He liked to simply go by “Charlie”, and he often
asked how his friends and their families were doing. A family man himself, Thaeler was married to Marianne Hobbs Thaeler and
had three boys, Charles III, Kent, and Bret.
Thaeler was an Assistant Professor of Biology at Indiana University until 1966, after which he and his family moved to New
Mexico. In New Mexico, Thaeler joined the faculty of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces as an Assistant Professor of
Biology. In 1975, Thaeler became a Full Professor of Biology, and he taught courses in systematics while also being involved
in the field of cytogenetics. He was also Chairman of the Committee on Systematic Collections under the American Society of
Mammalogists while at NMSU in the early 1980s.
Thaeler continued his tenure at NMSU until at least 1985, during which he mentored at least five successful PhD students.
He died on November 18, 2004 in Roswell, NM at age 72.
Scope and Contents note
The Charles S. Thaeler, Jr. papers consist of two bound volumes spanning the years 1956-1963. The field notes focus mainly
on the Thomomys genus, smooth-toothed pocket gophers, with some research on the Empidonax genus, birds of the tyrant flycatcher
family. The notes include journals, catalogues, and species accounts from localities within California and Nevada. Some of
the field notes contain map sketches. The Thaeler correspondence spans from his time at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology as
a graduate student to his time as a professor of biology at New Mexico State University.
Arrangement note
The arrangement of the collection is chronological and in its original form. The sections are bound in the order presented
in this guide.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Biological specimens--Identification
Cataloging--Specimens.
Correspondence
Empidonax
Field notes
Pocket gophers
Pocket gophers--United States.
Pocket gophers--Variation.
Thomomys bottae--California--Geographical distribution.
Thomomys bottae--Variation--California.
Field notes
1956-1963
Physical Description:
520.0 Pages
Volume 1
Volume 1 v1703
1956-1960
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
243.0 Pages
Volume 1, Section 1
Catalogue #99-230; Journal: California; Species Account v1703_s1
1956
Physical Description:
37.0 Pages
Related Materials Note
Specimens collected in this section can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Alameda County
North America, United States, California, Contra Costa County
North America, United States, California, Marin County
North America, United States, California, Mendocino County
North America, United States, California, Nevada County
North America, United States, California, Riverside County
North America, United States, California, San Diego County
North America, United States, California, San Joaquin County
North America, United States, California, San Mateo County
North America, United States, New York, Hamilton County
Volume 1, Section 2
Catalogue #231-419; Journal v1703_s2
1957
Physical Description:
22.0 Pages
Related Materials Note
Specimens collected in this section can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Alameda County
North America, United States, California, Contra Costa County
North America, United States, California, Kern County
North America, United States, California, Madera County
North America, United States, California, Marin County
North America, United States, California, Mendocino County
North America, United States, California, Napa County
North America, United States, California, Nevada County
North America, United States, California, Riverside County
North America, United States, California, San Bernardino County
North America, United States, California, San Diego County
North America, United States, California, San Luis Obispo County
North America, United States, California, Solano County
Volume 1, Section 3
Catalogue #321-817: California v1703_s3
1958
Physical Description:
20.0 Pages
Related Materials Note
Specimens collected in this section can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Alameda County
North America, United States, California, Contra Costa County
North America, United States, California, Fresno County
North America, United States, California, Imperial County
North America, United States, California, Kern County
North America, United States, California, Marin County
North America, United States, California, Riverside County
North America, United States, California, San Benito County
North America, United States, California, San Diego County
North America, United States, California, Shasta County
North America, United States, California, Siskiyou County
North America, United States, California, Yolo County
Volume 1, Section 4
Journal: California v1703_s4
1958
Physical Description:
31.0 Pages
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Alameda County
North America, United States, California, Colusa County
North America, United States, California, Contra Costa County
North America, United States, California, Fresno County
North America, United States, California, Imperial County
North America, United States, California, Kern County
North America, United States, California, Madera County
North America, United States, California, Marin County
North America, United States, California, Merced County
North America, United States, California, Riverside County
North America, United States, California, San Benito County
North America, United States, California, San Bernardino County
North America, United States, California, San Diego County
North America, United States, California, Shasta County
North America, United States, California, Siskiyou County
North America, United States, California, Sonoma County
North America, United States, California, Yolo County
Volume 1, Section 5
Species Account: Thomomys misc. v1703_s5
1958
Physical Description:
36.0 Pages
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Contra Costa County
North America, United States, California, Imperial County
North America, United States, California, Riverside County
North America, United States, California, San Diego County
North America, United States, California, Shasta County
North America, United States, California, Siskiyou County
Volume 1, Section 6
Catalogue #818-884; Journal: California; Species Accounts: Thomomys only v1703_s6
1959
Physical Description:
21.0 Pages
Related Materials Note
Specimens collected in this section can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Alameda County
North America, United States, California, Lassen County
North America, United States, California, Marin County
North America, United States, California, Nevada County
North America, United States, California, Plumas County
North America, United States, California, Sierra County
North America, United States, California, Sonoma County
North America, United States, California, Yolo County
Volume 1, Section 7
Catalogue #885-1112: California, Nevada v1703_s7
1960
Physical Description:
12.0 Pages
Related Materials Note
Specimens collected in this section can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Alameda County
North America, United States, California, Lassen County
North America, United States, California, Marin County
North America, United States, California, Nevada County
North America, United States, California, Placer County
North America, United States, California, Plumas County
North America, United States, California, Shasta County
North America, United States, California, Sierra County
North America, United States, California, Siskiyou County
North America, United States, Nevada, Washoe County
Volume 1, Section 8
journal: California, Nevada v1703_s8
1960
Physical Description:
45.0 Pages
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Alameda County
North America, United States, California, Lassen County
North America, United States, California, Marin County
North America, United States, California, Nevada County
North America, United States, California, Placer County
North America, United States, California, Plumas County
North America, United States, California, Shasta County
North America, United States, California, Sierra County
North America, United States, California, Siskiyou County
North America, United States, Nevada, Washoe County
Volume 1, Section 9
Species Account: Thomomys, Empidonax v1703_s9
1960
Physical Description:
19.0 Pages
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Lassen County
North America, United States, California, Nevada County
North America, United States, California, Plumas County
North America, United States, California, Shasta County
North America, United States, California, Sierra County
North America, United States, California, Siskiyou County
Volume 2
Volume 2 v1704
1961-1963
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
277.0 Pages
Volume 2, Section 1
Catalogue #1113-1409: California v1704_s1
1961
Physical Description:
16.0 Pages
Related Materials Note
Specimens collected in this section can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Fresno County
North America, United States, California, Lassen County
North America, United States, California, Marin County
North America, United States, California, Modoc County
North America, United States, California, Nevada County
North America, United States, California, Placer County
North America, United States, California, Plumas County
North America, United States, California, Sierra County
North America, United States, Nevada, Washoe County
Volume 2, Section 2
Journal: California, Nevada v1704_s2
1961
Physical Description:
53.0 Pages
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Fresno County
North America, United States, California, Lassen County
North America, United States, California, Marin County
North America, United States, California, Modoc County
North America, United States, California, Nevada County
North America, United States, California, Plumas County
North America, United States, California, Sierra County
North America, United States, Nevada, Washoe County
Volume 2, Section 3
Species Account: Contia Thomomys v1704_s3
1961
Physical Description:
37.0 Pages
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Fresno County
North America, United States, California, Lassen County
North America, United States, California, Modoc County
North America, United States, California, Nevada County
North America, United States, California, Plumas County
North America, United States, California, San Mateo County
North America, United States, California, Sierra County
North America, United States, Nevada, Washoe County
Volume 2, Section 4
Catalogue #1410-1733: California v1704_s4
1962
Physical Description:
17.0 Pages
Related Materials Note
Specimens collected in this section can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Lassen County
North America, United States, California, Modoc County
North America, United States, California, Nevada County
North America, United States, California, San Mateo County
North America, United States, California, Shasta County
North America, United States, California, Siskiyou County
Volume 2, Section 5
Journal: California v1704_s5
1962
Physical Description:
32.0 Pages
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Lassen County
North America, United States, California, Modoc County
North America, United States, California, Siskiyou County
Volume 2, Section 6
Species Accounts: Thomomys (misc.) v1704_s6
1962
Physical Description:
23.0 Pages
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Lassen County
North America, United States, California, Modoc County
North America, United States, California, Shasta County
North America, United States, California, Siskiyou County
Volume 2, Section 7
Catalogue #1734-2150: California (Utah) v1704_s7
1963
Physical Description:
22.0 Pages
Related Materials Note
Specimens collected in this section can be found in
Arctos , the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's specimen database.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Lassen County
North America, United States, California, Modoc County
North America, United States, California, Plumas County
North America, United States, California, Shasta County
North America, United States, California, Sierra County
North America, United States, California, Siskiyou County
North America, United States, Utah, Washington County
Volume 2, Section 8
Journal: California v1704_s8
1963
Physical Description:
40.0 Pages
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Lassen County
North America, United States, California, Modoc County
North America, United States, California, Plumas County
North America, United States, California, Shasta County
North America, United States, California, Sierra County
North America, United States, California, Siskiyou County
Volume 2, Section 9
Species Account: Thomomys (misc. birds, mammals, herps) v1704_s9
1963
Physical Description:
37.0 Pages
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North America, United States, California, Lassen County
North America, United States, California, Modoc County
North America, United States, California, Plumas County
North America, United States, California, Shasta County
North America, United States, California, Sierra County
North America, United States, California, Siskiyou County
